RORC's Red Funnel Regatta 2007 took place in bright sunshine over the Easter weekend.  Day 1 saw a light northerly wind across the Solent with the breeze between 3 - 9 knots.

The first race saw ‘Addiction’, followed by ‘Playing Around’ and then our X-35 ‘Vortex’ across the finish line in that order but ‘Playing Around’ pipped ‘Addiction’ on corrected time.  The second race saw gusts coming down either side of the course, ‘Vortex’ started left of the fleet looking for the breeze line coming down the left side.  We then crossed to the right and rounded in 4th place, the light winds run and the shortened course meant one short final beat to the finish.  ‘Vortex’ rounded the left gate mark inside a handful of boats, found a nice line of breeze on the right of the beat and finished just behind the 40.7 ‘Addition’ but correcting out to 1st place.

Day two started with no breeze, until a local thermal from the SW filled in, Super Zero were started but their race abandoned.  The race committee then did an excellent job of resetting the course and sending the fleets away.  With the tide now ebbing, it was wind with tide and a beat up the mainland shore that would take the boats out of the tide.

‘Vortex’ led the fleet up the left side of the course followed by the X-35

‘Swallow’ in their first regatta.  Swallow carried on further left up the beat and rounded the first windward mark with a good lead over Vortex, having overtaken quite a few of the Super Zero fleet.  ‘Swallow’ went onto win, followed by ‘Vortex’.

 

Race 4 saw the breeze slightly further left at around 150 degrees.

‘Vortex’ and ‘Addiction’ came off the start line together, both short taking up the mainland shore to avoid the tide.  ‘Addiction’ with slightly more draft tacked out to sea and 'Vortex' carried on in.  On our way back out, ‘Vortex’ hit and stuck fast on a mud bank, having to pop the kite to pull herself off whilst

the fleet disappeared past.  ‘Vortex’ pulled up to 9th place, one point behind

‘Addiction’ going into the final day.

Day three and no breeze, Easterly going spring tide, no sign of racing until a light SW filled in.  Enough time for one final race.  Now 10-12 knots, ‘Vortex’ took the left side of the beat and tacked over to ‘Addiction’, putting in a leebow tack.  The other 40.7 ‘Playing Around’ tried to cross both boats on port tack, but fouled ‘Addiction’ and then took her penalty turns.  With Super Zero starting behind IRC1 they soon came up to overtake.  ‘Vortex’ followed ‘Addiction’ around the last leeward mark, and corrected out into 2nd place one place ahead of ‘Addiction’, leaving them level on points but winning on count back.

1st X-35 ‘Vortex’

2nd Beneteau 40.7 ‘Addiction’

3rd Beneteau 40.7 ‘Playing Around’

 

Tim Harrington

Owner X-35 Vortex